Non-hygroscopic compound and explosive treated therewith.



- UNITE STATES- rENIr omen ARTHUR LA MOTTE, OF WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, ASSIGNOR TO THE E. I. DU PONT DE NEMOURS POWDER COMPANY, OF WILMINGTON, DELA- WARE, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

NON-HYGROSCDPIC COMPOUND AND EXPLOSlVE TREATED THEREWIIH.

Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed October 24 1904. Serial No, 229.763.

Pate nted April 16, 1907.

' pound and Explosive Treated Therewith, of

which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

Many explosives-fr instance, those containing oxidizin saltsare more or less hygroscop e or deiquescent, which militates considerably against their use as explosive sives by treating themas, for instance, coating them-w1th various compounds. I have discovered a compound which is very effective for this purpose. My compound comprises an admixture of a nitronaphthalene and a nitrotoluene. I may use any one of the nitronaphthalenes or any one of the nitrotoluenes. 7

In carrying out 111 invention and as an example of the same take from four to eight parts, by weight, of trinitrotoluene having a ammonia in a vessel.

nitrogen content of about eighteen and onehalf per cent. I heat this to its, meltingpoint and dissolve therein from four to eight parts, by weight, of tetranitronaphthalene aving a nitrogen content of about eighteen per cent. This admixture is then added to the explosive.

If I use a salt of ammonia, which is one of the oxidizing salts most necessary to be coated, I add eighty-eight parts of dry nitrate of This vessel is heated by suitable means to a temperature sufiicient to melt the com ound and coat the particles of the nitrate o ammonia with the melted compound.

Instead of first mixing the trinitrotoluene andthe tetranitronapht alene before adding I the explosive, (in tlus case nitrate of ammonia,) I can admix the three together and subject the admixture to heat to produce the same result. 7 y

The admixture of the nitronaphthalene and nitrotoluene produces an extremely satisfactory coating, in that it is non-crystalline, therefore not liable in any way to fracture,

and also has a low fusing-point, which enables it' to be melted re'adil to coat or admix with the explosive. Furt er, it is itself an explosive, and therefore does not detract from, but rather adds to, the explosive power of the material which it coats or with which it is incor orated.

While have selected as an example. of the explosive nitrate of ammonia, I desire it to be understood that my invention is applicable not only to nitrate of ammonia, but to any oxidizing salts which are used in explosivessuch as nitrates of the alkalies and alkaline earths, chlorates, perchlorates, &c. It may, in fact, be used with advantage with any explosive which is either hygroscopic or deliquescent. Nor do I intend to limit myself to the proportion of thematerials given in this specification, asthe same was merel' used as an example of proportions whic have been and ma be used. Nor do I intend to limit myse to the use of any particular one of the group of'nitrotoluenes or nitronapxl llthalenes. a

en in the claims I use the term treated, I intend to include either incorporated or coated. y

Havin now fully. described my invention, what I c aim, and desire to protect by Letters Patent, is'-' 1. An explosive compound comprising nitrate of ammonia treated with a nitronaphthalene and a nitrotoluene.

2. An explosive compound comprising nitrate of ammonia, in which is incorporated a nitronaphthalene and a nitrotoluene.

3. 'An explosive compound comprising nitrate of ammonia, a nitronaphthalene and a nitrotoluene.

In testimony of which invention I have ware, on this 18th day of October, .1904.

I A ARTIIUR MOTTE.

Witnesses:

Cues. L. Ramon, L. V. BRYAN.

hereunto set my hand, at Wilmington, Dela- 

